Cigarette dispenser



May 23, 1950 K. F. KEYZER CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed Dec. 12, 1947 WWMJYM# (A1-rom :.YJ

Patented May 23,` 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE DISPENSER Karl F. Keyzer, Rockford, Ill. K Y Application December 12, 1947, Serial No. 791,260

Claims. (Cl. 312-83) This invention relates to a cigarette dispenser having a member manually movable to release the cigarettes one at a time employing a construction generally similar to that shown in Patent No. 1,798,680 upon which the present invention is an improvement.

One object is to provide, in a dispenser of the above character, a novell means for agitating the cigarettes during each dispensing operation whereby to prevent clogging of the dispenser and always insure the release of one cigarette.

A more detailed object is to provide a vertically'movable slide forming the rear wall of the container and actuated automatically as an incident to each dispensing operation.

The invention also resides in the novel and simple means employed to actuate the slide and Aalso return the closure member to closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following de- 'tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 vis a perspective view of the improved dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the moving parts.

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the parts in different positions.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is tc be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the linvention by such disclosure but `aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the form shown for purposes of illustration,

Athe cigarettes 9 to be dispensed are stored in av rigid generally rectangular box formed by a at front wallA I0 slightly wider than the length of Va cigarette, a rear wall II of similar size, and

narrower connecting side walls I2. Screws I3 may be entered through holes in the rear wall to secure the box to any desired support. The upper end of the box is closed by a cover I4 swingable about pivot pins I5 projecting through the side walls near the upper end of the box.

Herein, the bottom of the box is formed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined extension I6 on a slide I'I which lies against the rear box wall II and is movable vertically along guides I8 dev:fined by grooves I9 formed in the side Walls I2 url the inner side thereof. At its forward end,

the bottom I6 bends downwardly as indicated at 241 into parallelism with the front wall I0 but is spaced in front of the latter a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarette so that a cigarette disposed horizontally in the opening 2! thus formed will fall -sidewise and downwardly.

The bottom opening 2I is normally closed (Fig. 3) by a generally iiat member 22 mounted beneath the box for horizontal movement rearwardly between a releasing position (Fig. 4) and a closed position (Fig. 3). To this end, arms 23 upstanding from opposite ends of the member 22 lie alongside the outer surfaces of the side walls I2 and are suspended at their upper ends from the pivots I5. Lugs 24 project forwardly from the member 22 and are curved to provide a recess 25 for receiving the lowermost cigarette when the member is, by engaging one of the lugs or other part rigid with the member, pushed rearwardly to bring the recess 25 into alinement with the discharge opening as shown in Fig. 4. Then, as the member 22 is again moved forwardly to close the bottom opening,

`g5 the cigarette received in the recess 25 is carried forwardly beneath the front wall to a dispensing 'position (Fig. 3) in front of the box. The cigarette is thus supported inl a position readily accessible for withdrawal manually.

InV accordance with the presentinvention, provision is made for raising and lowering the slide Il and thereby agitating the cigarettes in the box automatically as an incident to each dispensing operation. This may be accomplished simply through engaging cam surfaces 26 and 27 on the member and slide respectively. Herein,

Athe surface 26 is the Aupper edge of a ange 28 turned upwardly along the rear edge of the member 22. The surface 21 .is the downwardly and rearwardly inclined edge of a block 29 disposed below and rigid with the underside of the bottom I6. By inclining the edge 2l at approximately forty-five degrees, the weight of the slide Il may be utilized advantageously to urge the member 22 forwardly when the manual pressure thereon is released. The necessity of providing a spring for returning the member is thus avoided.

V Y 3 against the slide Il. Now, as the member 22 is pushed rearward1y,all of the cigarettes except the lowermost one are moved within the box and thus agitated so that one or more cigarettes come to rest in horizontal position in the opening Y 2l which, it will be observed from Fig. 4, is extended vertically and thus adapted to receive two lor more cigarettes disposed horizontally the one above the other and thus positioned for proper passagestrugh; tiie -..0pening 2?# succeeding dispens'fgpeiatios. Such position, at least o'f the lowermost cigarette, is retained as the member 22 is released and again allowed to move forLA Wardly under the weight of the slide II..4 By suon agitation of the cigarettes which occurs as an incident to each Vdispensing operation-thdarigef of the cigarettes clogging on beoomi-ng-swedgedin the entrance to the discharge'` opening i's avoided effectively. Y

The vertical moveme'it of the slide l1 and the bottom'- Iffis preferably greater. than 'thef diameter of ai cigarette;A To prevent a. cigarettefrom :felling rearwardly in: beneath. theV lower: edge: of the? extension 2d at. this time,. two lugsy de,-

leii'ding from'ftlis edge are` positioned to Ahold` thev cigarettes from: rolling i backwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Then, when the slide is lowered,. these -lugsmove dtmmwardly` intor holesj 3l in the mmbl? 2`2'x Thez'fcigarettefdispenser described above isf-sirnpia ina oonstnuctionf and operation` and., operates xr'el-iabli'at allitimes so' as to'insure-thedispensing of? onlyr onecigarette at a time? but alwasysione .having'a' forwardly and; downwardly inclined; exe

tension-,forming ai bottom for said-box andi co.-

\ operating; with'said front WeilltdrformfaI discharge operinga approximating the width' andi lengths 'of d.' lcigarette disposed horizontaiim means rigid withg and disposed: below said: extensionsproviding ai downwartilsrY and nearwardly inclined sur?- facesv a= member' disposed (below: said frontV wail andncrinally closing@ said: disclfiafrge4 opening.; and having ze forwardly projectingy receptacleT to: re.-

ceive aY single-cigarette; througl-i'-` said' opening when ali-ned' with; thef lattenV and. support the sigarettev` iny fronti of; said; front wallx wheni the member mofvecl` i'onweirdiy;V armsf at opposite y erfdsf cfs said member? extending: upwardly' along;-

sidfe'e saids side. walls,I ymeans nearf the upper. Vend ofsaid vfront wall= and adjacent thelatter sus .pending said'r armsA for movement-ot saiclmem*- ler: backwardly and forwardly; and` means; on

saidmember engageablewith said: cam surface and` operable to mnve= saidrea-i" wallsV wpwardly as said member isV movedf'rearwardly tobring said. receptaclebeneath;v said. discaliargeropen-ing.

2s.y A; cigarettercontainer having, in combinaition,front. and; side walls# a rear. wall. cooperating with. saidff-ront: andsidewalls toform: a bois and hav-ingan extension. forming a. bottom for said box andfoepenating, witlfr4 said?, front wall, tosform aal-discharge. opening for passing a-V horizontally disposed cigarette, a downwardly and reaznwardl-y `inclined earn surface rigid with: the: underside et said bottomf as .member disposed; belowl said .ii-ront wall and normally closing, said discharge opening1 bu-tvrel'easing a cigarette t'lereii'nonlr when moved', rearwardly, arms at oposite. ends-1 of said `memberl attending upwardlyalongside said: side walls, aspivot suspending safi'd armste permitssube opening fon passing. cigarettes 'dwnwadly, a

rim

. dueingssaidceanwsed, movement arid# te) lowes lsiffle: dating sai'd forward movemensa .Y

stantially horizontal movement of said member backwardly and forwardly, and means on said member engageable with said cam surface and operable thereon to move said rear wall upwardly as said member is swung rearwardly.

3. A dispensing cigarette container having, in combination, a box having front, rear and side Walls, a slide guided for vertical movement along tl1e rear of said box and having a downwardly andiiorwrdly" inclined extbnsion tiinned downwardly" at its' forward end and? spaced from said front wall to form therewith an opening for passing cigarettes downwardly, a member normally" closing said opening and mounted beneath the opening for horizontal movement rearwardly and forwardly, said member when shifted rearwardly releasing a.` cigarette through said opening, and surfaces on said slide and said member ccting'when said member is pushed rearwardly to raise said slide, saidsurfaces acting under the weight-of the slide when membery is'rele'ased toi shift the. member forwardly.'A

4e. A dispensing cigarette container? having, in combination?, ai box having? fronts side andi rear walls,. a; slide disposed in front-of! rean wall and guided for vertical movement, said slide having a@ downwardly and forwardlyf inclined entensicm 11i-merk downwardly at its;- forward` end.' i-n't'o parallelism withsaitt frontwalintoiform' therewith opening forf passing' cig-arettesl sidewiseand downwardiyf a member normally closing said openings and; moumiectbeneatm the*v opening' for horizontale movement.- rearwardly andv forwardly, saidl member when shifted rearwardly releasing a cigarette through: opening. and? cani: surffacesf on: said` slide; and: meinten coactng during sardi rearwardtv movement raise? said slide@ and: Vag-Itate 'the .cigarettes rthe'ri dis'msedk in said:4 opening; 1

5; fi dispensing cigarette container having; iii .en'hebi'nai'iiori; a bient hava'lngi'roni; Side and 11e-'alt walls, a slide dspsednafrhtSaldi Ilii" Wal 'and guidedior' verticali movementas-aid slidfliaving an extension forming the box botin?` and 'cooperating with said.v frfolit'l walli provid@ an memben norm-aim closing sad= peniilg mounted beneath theS opening horizontal m'o'vement rearwardify amd/forwardly; said niembei. when shifted teamwandiy releasingl @eigenem exponga saint seems and. surfaces ce: saidfsnde and saidI member enacting to raise# solidi 'slide the e.. The combination with; a container Having' a, bottoms opening adaptedto passim-single grtte sidewfises therethrough; said;A opening d'efined in part by a slide guided for verticaliiovea member: mounted beneath said contaneie' for.' movement backV alnd fertilil and? a. recessV adapted to' tenente" ai cigarette? when disposent pensata. said: opening; anni operatie to 'carry thefcigaifette to a dispensing position in Y forwardly;-v said member" closing sind opening kwhen in said dispensing position, and. camifsuifaces: on said member' ampli slide coactin'g as said member smi-ted? reame/amig anni forwardiy to: respectively raise and lower said slide and' esitate use cigarettes disposed in and ad'- jacent saidsdperiing;

'Bhe' combinatinnzwithi ai centaine? having a .bottom opening. adaptedi t@ pa'ss eigarettes'f sidewise therethroughg.. said: opening being' defined ih partby ai verticali wall,"- on'. atslideuiiiew for" vertical bodily movement and operable in such movement to agitate the cigarettes disposed in said container above said opening, a member mounted beneath said container for horizontal movement back and forth to release a cigarette therethrough when shifted rearwardly, said member closing said opening when in its forward position, and means on said slide acting during rearward shifting of said member to raise said slide.

8. The combination with a container having a bottom opening adapted to pass cigarettes sidewise and downwardly therethrough, a member mounted on said container beneath said opening for movement back and forth to open and close the opening, a slide within said container contacting the cigarettes therein and having a vertical surface defining the rear wall of said opening, and means actuated by the movements of said member to raise and lower said slide bodily and thereby agitate the cigarettes in said container.

9. The combination with a container having a bottom opening adapted to pass cigarettes sidewise and downwardly therethrough, said opening being defined in part by a Vertical wall on a slide guided for vertical bodily movement and having a bottom inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the top of said Vertical wall, a member mounted beneath said container for horizontal movement back and forth to release a cigarette therethrough when the member is shifted rearwardly, said member closing said opening when in its forward position, and means providing an operative connection between said member and said slide acting during rearward shifting of said member to raise said slide bodily.

10. The combination with a container having a bottom opening adapted to pass cigarettes sidewise therethrough, said opening being defined in part by a slide guided for up and down motion within the container and having a bottom wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said opening at an angle which remains constant relative to the horizontal in all vertical positions of the slide, a member mounted beneath said opening for movement back and forth to open and close the opening, and means actuated by the movement of said member to raise and lower said slide bodily and thereby agitate the cigarettes disposed in said container above said bottom wall.

KARL F. KEYZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,678,355 Roberts July 24, 1928 1,798,680 Keyzer Mar. 31, 1931 1,910,209 Grunwald l- May 23, 1933 2,075,988 Johnson Apr. 6, 1937y 2,435,793 Meilke Feb. 10, 1948 

